I was reading Josh's post on his 10 year project to make a knife and fear I might be just starting mine now.
Last night, stressed to the hilt, I decided a bottle of wine and sitting at the fire was what I needed. So out I went, and this time I decided to throw the file in as well. If it didn't get hot enough well so be it. I was in a don't-care mood.
As it turns out, the fire was a lot hotter than I imagined. The file is no longer flat! I built up some coals under the file and then kept loading wood on top. I'm not sure how long it was burning for, but when I retrieved the file this morning it was no longer flat.
Some photos are in order I think. Click on a photo for a larger image.
Getting a bed of coals prepared:
Some like it hot!
As the evening turned to night, the file was getting pretty hot. Exposed it a little for this photo and then covered it again with embers.
A little out of shape the morning after, kinda like me
I've tested the file with another file as per Green Pete's video and it's soft all the way along. Pity this weekend is already booked out with taking son to an astronomy show tomorrow, and then canoeing on Sunday (it's been too long since I got away from it all on the water).
But considering how long it's been since I bought these files (last Summer!) I'm in no mad rush to ruin it.